Col. Joshua Kutryk, an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), captivated a sold-out audience at Calgary’s Telus Spark Science Centre during a recent talk focused on the future of space exploration. Hailing from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Kutryk is currently assigned to NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission, where he will spend six months aboard the International Space Station. In his address, he expressed enthusiasm for the future of space travel in Canada, stating, "If you’re young and you want to work in space – as an engineer, scientist, astronaut, whatever it is – the future has never been brighter in this country." He shared his childhood fascination with space and encouraged young attendees to pursue their passions, noting that he had always dreamed of becoming an astronaut despite initially considering it unrealistic. Kutryk's career began as a CF-18 fighter pilot, where he undertook missions supporting NATO, the UN, and NORAD, including deployments in Libya and Afghanistan. He will make history as the first Canadian astronaut to participate in NASA’s commercial crew program, marking a significant milestone for Canada's involvement in space exploration.